While more than nine in 10 Americans would vote for a presidential candidate who is black, a woman, Catholic, Hispanic, or Jewish, significantly smaller percentages would vote for one who is an atheist (54%) or Muslim (58%). Americans’ willingness to vote for a Mormon (80%) or gay or lesbian (68%) candidate falls between these two extremes.
The results are based on a June 7-10 Gallup poll, updating a question Gallup first asked in 1937 in reference to a female, Jewish, or Catholic candidate and has asked periodically since then, with additional candidate characteristics added to the list.
Remember Terry Jones, the mustachioed clown of a pastor who created a furor over burning copies of the Quran? Mr. Jones has decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for President of the United States. He will be running as a Republican (surprise, surprise) and laid out a seven point plan, which includes deporting 20 million illegal aliens.
Many have scoffed at his announcement, but is he any less absurd a candidate than many other GOP contenders who are running on the anti-Muslim platform? The Republican party is full of candidates trying to use Islamophobic rhetoric to woo right-wing voters. These include hopefuls like Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Herman Cain. This article by Sheila Musaji on The American Muslim, entitled The GOP Has Declared War on American Muslims, is worth reading.
Maybe Herman Cain can run Terry Jones as his vice president. Then, they can offer a great deal on burning Qurans: burn the first Quran for $9.99, next Quran is on us!
Certainly, Terry Jones’ seven point proposal is more reasonable than Herman Cain’s 9/9/9 pizza plan. In fact, one of Terry Jones’ seven points is to reduce military spending. Number three in his seven point plan is:
Reduce military spending: All military on foreign soil should be brought back immediately and all future involvement of military on foreign soil should not be engaged until our country has become economically strong again. The security of our nation must be reexamined and our military spending must be cut by several billion dollars.
Is it possible that a right-wing uber-Islamophobe just said something more reasonable about foreign policy than most of the rest of the candidates, including Barack Obama himself?
